Airbus's New Plane 'Vahana' can do Vertical Takeoff and Landing
Published on: 2/4/2018

Airbus's New Plane 'Vahana' can do Vertical Takeoff and Landing

Airbus' New Self-Pilot Plane Capable of Vertical Takeoff, Landing Given Sanskrit Name 'Vahana'

European major Airbus has chosen Sanskrit word 'Vahana' (meaning vehicle) for what might be the future of urban mobility — a self-piloted, vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer completed the first full-scale test flight of Vahana in Oregon, US, on January 31, describing it a "milestone in advancing urban air mobility".

Airbus started the project in 2016 with an aim to provide "personal flight". "The aircraft we're building doesn't need a runway, is self-piloted, and can automatically detect and avoid obstacles and other aircraft.

Designed to carry a single passenger or cargo, we're aiming to make it the first certified passenger aircraft without a pilot. We aim to fly a full-size prototype before the end of 2017, and to have a productizable demonstrator by 2020," a write-up on the Vahana website says.

twitter

"Vahana, the all electric, self-piloted, VTOL aircraft from A³ by Airbus... successful completion of its first full-scale flight test, reaching a height of 5 meters before descending safely. Its first flight, with a duration of 53 seconds, was fully self-piloted and the vehicle completed a second flight the following day," Airbus said.

Asked if there was an India link to the project, an Airbus spokesman said the manufacturer chose a Sanskrit name for it.

twitter

The Vahana project is developed at A³, the Silicon Valley outpost of Airbus. "A³ enables access to unique talent and ideas, new partnership opportunities, and execution at speed.

Vahana leverages its self-piloted capabilities to operate without a passenger. Following these successful hover flights, the team will turn to additional testing, including transitions and forward flight.